85% believe therapy is wise
BetterHelp's 2026 State of Stigma report found 85% of Americans believe getting mental health support is wise.
Snapshot · The Rest Is Politics: US
202. Is Trump Rigging the World Cup?
Explore episode
Jul 6, 2026
Where this was said
Sponsor: BetterHelp Mental Health Ad
At 0:06 · chapter starts 0:00
The episode opens with a BetterHelp sponsorship spot citing the brand's 2026 State of Stigma report, which surveyed 2,000 Americans. The headline finding is stark: 85% of respondents believe seeking mental health support is a wise decision, yet 74% think society actively discourages people from doing so. The ad positions BetterHelp as the solution to that gap, noting that users complete a short questionnaire to be matched with a fully qualified US therapist, and can switch therapists at any time. Listeners are directed to betterhelp.com/TRIPUS for a 10% discount on their first month.
74% feel society discourages help
Despite widespread belief in therapy, 74% of surveyed Americans think society discourages people from seeking mental health support.
World Cup 10x size of Super Bowl
Anthony Scaramucci noted that the FIFA World Cup audience is roughly ten times larger than the American Super Bowl.
Similar snapshots
More than 3 in 4 Americans report anxiety or depression
Mental health challenges are nearly universal — BetterHelp's own research found the majority of Americans experiencing symptoms right now.
Medicaid 5-year look-back rule
When applying for Medicaid to cover nursing home costs, there is a 5-year look-back period that can disqualify applicants who gave away or spent down assets.
Pipe broke → hydrogen sulfide studio air
A broken pipe filled the Bad Friends studio with what the hosts identified as hydrogen sulfide — microscopic fecal aeroparticles — that the crew denied smelling.
Robot surgery: 10x less blood loss
Fei-Fei Li's father's liver surgery performed by a da Vinci robot resulted in 10 times less blood loss than a typical open liver surgery, thanks to laparoscopic precision.
115M US adults have prediabetes
Approximately 115 million adults in the US currently have prediabetes, most of whom are unaware, according to the Lingo sponsor segment.
Drug overdose deaths: 110K to 80K to 70K
Drug overdose deaths in the US fell from 110,000 to 80,000 in 2024, and then to roughly 70,000 — the largest single-year drop the CDC has ever recorded.
Men's overdose rate fell 27% in one year
Men's overdose death rate fell 27% in a single year, outpacing the 23% drop for women.
Ages 15–24 overdose deaths down 37%
The steepest decline in overdose deaths was among 15–24-year-olds, whose rate fell 37%.
Nurses walk miles per shift fetching items
Fei-Fei Li observed that on a given hospital shift, nurses walk miles just to fetch medicine and supplies, illustrating a clear use case for assistive robotics in healthcare.
